Meditations on BG 2.40 and SB 3.25.38

Links to Srila Prabhupada’s purport and lecture on BG 2.40 and SB 3.25.38:

https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/2/40/

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/3/25/38/

https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/741207sbbom/

Hare Krsna,

BG 2.40: In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.

SB 3.25.38: The Lord continued: My dear mother, devotees who receive such transcendental opulences are never bereft of them; neither weapons nor the change of time can destroy such opulences. Because the devotees accept Me as their friend, their relative, their son, preceptor, benefactor and Supreme Deity, they cannot be deprived of their possessions at any time.

As a conditioned soul, I go through phases of fearfulness. There are days when I feel very hopeful and positive, and then there are days I am overcome with fear. There is fear of not seeing my loved ones again (I live alone in this country away from my parents and siblings); there is fear of missing good devotee association; there is fear of losing a good friendship (or any relationship); there is fear of falling down from the path of bhakti; there is fear of losing my job or relocating to a new place not conducive to bhakti; there is fear of being overcome by poor health or financial crisis; there is fear of being cheated. The list can go on and on. The cause of this fear is my attachment to bodily relationship and unavoidable material things (such as jobs, etc.). Whenever I go through such situations, I try to step back and try to differentiate between things that are temporary and permanent. When we accept the fact that there are some things that we would inevitable lose now (or at the time of death), we can make peace with it. In such situations, we can analyze what will stay with us permanently and we will never go through the anxiety of losing them. Thankfully transcendental knowledge helps us in dealing with such difficult situations in life.

It is good to remind myself on a regular basis that I am not a material body having a spirit soul; rather I am a spiritual being possessing a material body. As Lord Krsna said in BG that the soul is eternal. He told Arjuna that that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul. (BG 2.17). The individual soul is eternal; the Supersoul is also eternal. Our relationship with Krsna, who resides as Supersoul in us, is also eternal. Therefore the process of devotional service (bhakti) between the devotee (bhakta) and the Lord (Bhagavan) is also eternal. This is something that we will never lose. Our relationship with Krsna is set in stone; no one can break it. Therefore, it is a matter of great relief when Krsna promises us that there is no loss or diminution of the path of bhakti. A little advancement on this path will protect us from the most dangerous type of fear (BG 2.40). This is a great everlasting solution to overcome fearfulness of any kind.  What a relief!!

What a disaster and disappointment would it have been if we had lost all the transcendental opulences, blessings, bliss and love for Krsna that we have cultivated all these years!! It is, therefore, very pleasing and encouraging to hear Lord Kapiladeva’s declaration to His mother, “My dear mother, devotees who receive such transcendental opulences are never bereft of them; neither weapons nor the change of time can destroy such opulences. Because the devotees accept Me as their friend, their relative, their son, preceptor, benefactor and Supreme Deity, they cannot be deprived of their possessions at any time.” (SB 3.25.38)  We can see that in the pastimes of great personalities such as Bharat Maharaja, Vrtrasura, etc. Even though they ‘seemed’ to have fallen down, they never lost their Krsna consciousness (and attachment for Krsna) that they possessed in their previous lives.

On the contrary, bhakti and our relationship with Krsna is like an ever-expanding ocean. Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport that once one is fixed in the devotional service of the Lord, his position of transcendental service cannot be destroyed, and the pleasure and service simply increase unlimitedly. In material world, time destroys everything. Even great civilizations, cultures, countries, cities have been destroyed by the force of time. I was driving by the city of Detroit a few years ago; it was so painful to see a city once termed the ‘automobile capital of the world’ lost its glorious past and has fallen into decay. This is the nature of time. It destroys everything – our bodies, relationships, wealth, fame, beauty, life, etc. In the Vaikuntha atmosphere, there is no influence of time or of the demigods.

Krsna is so loving and kind that He not only promises eternal bliss and life in Krsna consciousness. He is also willing to allow us to treat Him like His servant, friend, parent, and lover. He knows our innermost desire in our hearts, and He reciprocates accordingly. Srila Prabhupada says in his lecture that if we love Krsna, there is no destruction.

I found the following statement of Srila Prabhupada very heart-fulfilling,

“So if you accept Kṛṣṇa as your son, as your friend, as your lover, you will never be cheated. So try to accept Kṛṣṇa. Give up this false, illusory servant or son or father or lover. You’ll be cheated… The fact is that if you make the same relationship with Kṛṣṇa, it will never become zero; it will be enthusiastic more and more. Ānandāmbudhi-vardhanam.” (Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 3.25.38)

It is therefore important for us to establish and solidify our relationship (sambandha) with Krsna. This relationship is eternal. Since we may not be able to see Krsna with our materially contaminated eyes, we can build that same relationship with Krsna’s Holy Name. The name of Krsna and Krsna are non- different since both are Absolute. I must therefore chant His holy name with that mood and prayer. That I want to surrender to Him as instructed by Him in BG 18.66 (sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇam vraja). Since Krsna is non-different from His name, this BG verse can also mean sarva-dharmān parityajya NAMA ekaṁ śaraṇam vraja. Our relationship with Krsna’s name is as eternal as our relationship with Krsna is. Everything else is temporary and subject to destruction by the influence of time.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!